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. Da. 18,1928. y 1,695,733

P. Q. WILLIAMS` yGLASS'NAREI ANNEALING LEER retenue Dee1a19j2'8215f UNITED. 4`S-Tii'1ia1s rimer awrmuxs. oisl romano, omo, assIGNon ro THE'ownNs norm column?, .x or fronmmbmo, n conioaarronor 01110I i emsswann-nnnmnme Lann.'

. appiieationmealnuary-as,1927. lserial mi. 164,138.

' This invention relates to improvements in glassware annealing leers and particularly tov a'novel means for heating and "introducing an annealing medium into the leer tunnel orl annealing chamber.

Ordinarily, in the process of annealing glassware, the ware isnconvey'ed through a heating zone wherein the temperature of the ware is stepped up suddenly by direct application of products of combustion or radiated heat, tothc ware. lVhere the products of combustion come into 'contact with the ware,

an objectionable coating orjlhn is formed upon the ware. Further, it has been found difficult or practically impossible to obtain and maintain .uniformity of temperature in vthe heating zone,.th e' tendency having been to produce a high and perhaps normal tcmperature along the longitudinal center; whilev the radjacent side areas were relatively cool. This condition causes a readily apparent lack of uniformity and quality in the annealed ware and contributes appreciably to the production of defective or off Ware.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for overcoming the 'above obj ections by introducing anannealing medium free of products of combustion into the annealing chamber, thus preventing the coating of the ware, and to provide further mea'ns for -accurately controlling the temperature Aot' the annealing medium introduced into the leer, the controlling means being such that absolutel or practically uniform -te'mperature con it-ions transversely, as well as longitudinally, of the annealing zone are attainable. The means for eliminating introduction of products of combustion intotheA leer tunnel with the annealing medium comprises building a recuperator of units having passageways through which the medium circu lates and isheated indirectly by products of combustion which `are directed between and over the outer surfaces of the units. Uniform temperature conditions are obtained by providing a novel valve slide construction by whichr transverse sections of the recuperator may be eliminated from-the path of circula' the annealing chamber to equal advantage.

Other objects willbe apparent hereinafter.

' Inthe accompanying drawingsz f Fig. 1 isa vertical central sectional `view showing the relation of the recuperator and the feedlng end of a leer.

A/Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the linen-II of Fig. 1.

F1g. 3 isa plan view of one of the valve slides.

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of one of the` recu perator tubes, parts being broken away in section.

F 1g. 5 1s a fragmentary plan viewshowing the manner in which the tube heads'are relaj tively offset to form a wall dividing there- -cuperator into upper and lower chambers.

T he present application embodies certain subject matter also disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 129,373, filed August 16, 1926, but not claimed therein.

This leer includes longitudinal base members 10 formedof channel iron or other preferred units. Side walls 11 formed of suitable insulatingmaterial, rise vertically from said base members, are suitably reinforced,

by a ceiling 12 whichis also formed of any approved insulati-ng material properly supportedby a framework. An endless conlveyor 13 runs over a pair of'vertically spaced other parts as willbe understood by refer- 'ence to my co-pending application, Serial No. 129,373, filed August 16, 1926.

The means for heating the annealing medium employedin annealing the glassware in the leer, comprises a combustion chamber and and have their upper ends connected together partment 17 accommodatesreturn pipes and recuperator located at the forward end of the lower compartment 17 between the longitudinal reaches ofthe ware conveyor.. In so far as the positioning of the heating` means is concerned, it is quite obvious that under certain conditions, said means might well be located at some other point with respect to In arrangigthe recuperator in the lower compartment `of the leer, side walls 418 formed connected by a transverse wall'19 ofiirebrick.

ioo

The inner face of this transverse wall 19 (Fig. l) is hollowed out providing a passage way by way of which products of combustion pass from one portion of the recupera,-v

tor to another` as will be set forth hereinafter.

, To prevent undue dissipation of heat through y the transverse end wal119, a layer of insulation 21 is arranged over the outer face of said i wall,"(Fig. 1). These side and end'walls 18 and 19, and the layer of insulating material 21, as well asthe insulating materialfor the Y side walls 18 of therecuperator, are support ,chamber 23 open at one en 24. Theseways or channels'open through opposite sides o the bottom casting 22 of the recuperator and accommodate valve slidesv 26 formed with openings 27, which openings decrease in diameter toward the oppositess'rles of the leer, said slides serving to vary and accurately control the rate of flow .of the annealing medium through the4 ,openings 25 as will be pointed out; f

The tube units 28 are support gruponther bottom casting 22, said units each compris ing a pair of non-circular heads 29, preferably of hexagonal outline, donnectcd by t tubular body eccentrically formed on said heads. Inf

assembling the lower -groiip of tubes, the pas-I sageway 30 through each tubeunit is aligned with an openin 25 'in the bottom casting 22. In assembling t e upper group or tier of-tube units, they are s'et upon the lower group with the tube openings in alignment, but with the abutting heads 29 dis-aligned and forming overlapping joints. This relation of the heads (Figs. 2 and l5) is such that a bonding element may be freely and easily applied in any desired amount'without dropping 'intothe spaces between the lower group of tubes, and in the final assembly the abutting heads provide a central horizontal dividing wall by which the recuperator is separated into upper and lower chambers. Such construction also materially assists in the formation of a substantial and rigid unit. The rear ends of these upper and lower chambers open into the cavity 20 in the transverse end wall 19 so that, as heretofore-stated', communication between the chambers is established. The forw'ardveud ofthe upper clamber ofthe recuperator opens directly into the combustion chamber 31, into which the fuel is injected.

This combustion chamber is preferably of tu-l -bular form and is supported in a suitable castextendingftransyersely of lthe lower compartment 17,'said casting being support-V i in the side walls 1'1 in any approved manner. The forward end of the lower chamber o f the recu erator communicates with-the 'forward en oia flue 83, said flue extending longitudinally of the leer along the bottom of the lower chamber 17 and leading to a suit-v able stack-(not shown) through which produ cts of combustion are exhausted to the atmosphere. I

A top casting 354 is: arranged over the up per tier-of tubeeunits, said castin having a plurality of openings 36 aligne `With the structure' and*- cooperating with the heads of the tubes in dividing the recuperator into two chambers.

The forward end of the bottom casting 22 is stepped down`belowtthe mainrportion so that an outlet 39 of sufficient arca to permit exhaust of the` products of combustion will be provided.A A liller block 40 (Fig. 1) provided with vertical passagewaysl, is ar-- ranged betwen the adjacent heads ofthe 'openings through' the tube units This top casting 35 (Fig. -2) consists of two sections` 8U transverse rows of tubes over the downwardly steppedarea to compensate for the lackin length ond-he part of the tubes, which'fareoi #standard dimensions throughoutand consequently too shrt to extend from thetop iframe or casting vto said area.

In order that the valve slides 2 6 may be *utilized to control the temperature conditions transversely of the leer, aswell as longitudinally of the annealing zone ,'the inter-' mediate openings 27 are substantially the same area as the passageways through corre'- are graduated' toward 'the sides of;the recu perator. 'This formation permits a. relatively rapid movement 'of the annealing -medium through the intermediate tubes, a lower rate of movement of' the medium through the ad jacent side tubes, and a still slower movement 4through the tubes 'adjacent the Yside walls, su h reduction in the rate of movement resulting i-n van increased absorption of heat units by the/'annealing medium in circulating through the side tubes. possibility of accurately controlling tlieA 'rate' of movement-of the annealingvr'iedium through these'tubes as labove brought out,l

perati'u'e of the annealing medium ventering spending tubes, whilethe.remainingopenings.

vthe cl'iainbei",'r'nay`be had so thatasubstan-A v.

tially balanced or uniform temperature of the annealing medium transversely of the -annealing zone, as well as longitudinally thereof, is readily attained and maintained. The 1 Because oitlfe`v 15 any desired increase or decrease .in the-temi ly closed. Thus,

. annealing medium 'ma' esmas length and effective heatingfcapiicity of the recuperator in the path of circulation ofthe c vof control eliminates the unbalanced temperting. lie

iture inthe-annealing zone hertpforefniem' tioned and contributes quite materially toward the attainment of perfection in glass-l ware annealing.

Manifestly, certain minorchangesma be resorted to Within the spiritand scope ofi-the ap nded claims.

at I claim is': l. A heatingunit for leers land the like comprising a.- reuperator, said recuperator includin superposed'groups of tubes, abutads formed on the tubes and providing a horizontallyvdividing wall between the groups when the tubes are assembled,\'; passageways aligned with said openngan means for directing products of combustion in reverse directions 'above and below. said cuperator, means causing movement ofi` annealin 4medium through the reeuperaipr dividing wall over the outer surfaces'"of\the tubes, said tubes ada ted to permit passage of an annealing Vm lum through the recuperator without contacting with the products '.hamber;. means for conveying vvare through I ya recuperatoi comppieingsets also be varied 'of'transverseiy aligned tubesfmeans'forhcabtheitubes, means causin movement of an annealing medium throng the ,tubes into said chamber, and valve slides having openin passageways to varyv the relative rate of g: of varying diameters aligned with the" movement of the annealing medium through the .tubes of any slides .being uantity' of annealing medium moving throuhftlie selected set' of tubes.- 6;' necuperator .comprising a bottom casting hiiving. alongitudinal chamber opening-through one en andhaving' aset of Vopenings in its Aupper side, a pluralityyof tubessuppoi'ted on said casting and havin valve slides interposed betvveen said toni casting and the tubes, said slides each having aset 4of openings of vaiing diameters adapted for ah ment with t e p'asszigaways -through the tu s to therebyvarythe relative rate'of movement of the annealii'w meselected transv'er'se set, saidshiftable to uniformly vary the erator 4without chanffingative, rateo movement of thcinedium i of combustion, and means for varying thedig tlii'ough any aselectedjsei'ies of said capacity of the recuperator; j

into sai chamber, and means fo varying the relative rate of'ilow of the anbei ing'medium through transversely spaced-areas of a selected'portion of the recuperator independentl of remaining portions. c

4. A eer comprising a ware\ receiving chamber, means for conveying ware through said chamber, a recuperator comprising setsy of. transversely aligned tubes, means .for heating the tu es,'means causin movement of'an annealing medium tlirou the tubes into said chamber,and;valve s 'des having openings of varying diameters aligned vvith the tube passageways to varythe relative 2. A leer vcomprising-'a ware receiving 7. -A recuperator'coinprising top and bot openi gs,\ upper' and-lower groups? of tube units rranged between s'aid castingand havtomjcastings having a plurality of.' aligned ing passageways aligned with each other-and with the openings-in said castings, isaidbottom casting having a chamber-Q-iopening th ough one end and also commimicating with the tube passageways by 'waypf said openings,- and means for varyin the relative rate of movement of the annea ing? medium through' 'Set- 'y -1 8. A .recuperator comprising top and'bot tom castings'having' a openings, upper and lower units arranged between .sai

the tubes ofA any seleizted transverse plurality ofialigned I groups of tube:'

castin i 3nd having assageways aligned with eacI other A and wit the openin bottom casting'havin a chamber opening through one end an also communicatin Ain Isaid castings, said '1.

-with the tube passageways by way of sai i openings, and means forvaryin therelative rate o movement of the annea 'ng .medinm .through the tubes of any, selected tiiansverse set, saidmeans comprising valve slides extending transversely of the recuperatorand isa having graduated 'openings adapted at times for alignmentwith the tube passageways.

.9.. In a recu rater for glassf annealing leers and the 1i e, means permit ing paage of an' annealing medium throu ,h the recurate' of movement, of the annealing medium perator, means for'rendering 'portion of through the tubes of anyselectedtransverse 5. A leer comprising a ware receiving the recuperator inactive, and means where *the relative rate of movement of the annea I -ingmedium through transversely pointsiof the remaining active portidhof the recuperator may be'yaried. f

10. In a recuperator for glass'annealing leers andthe like,-nieans permitting passage of an annealing medium through the recuperator, means for rendering aportiony ot therecuperator inactive, means or changing the relative capacityv of selected longitudinally spaced portions of the remaining active area,- and iiieaiis whereby the relative rate of movement ofthe annealing 'medium through A tranversely spaced points-of the remaining l tive' temperature of the air entering at diffe-i ent-points transversely of said chamber.

A 13. An annealing leer comprising in coiiibination anA annealing chamber extending lengthwise of theleer, means for introducing heated .air into said 'chamber at diferent points transversely thereof and causing said air to circulate lengthwise of said chamber; and-means -bywhich the air entering saidl chamber adjacent tlie'side walls thereof may be raised to a higher temperature than the air entering?atiintermediate points.

f 14. In an'nnneali-ng leer, the combination of an annealing chamber extending lengthwise' of the "leer," a series of tubes through Which'heatedair is conveyed to said chamber,

'said tubes coiiin'iunicating with said chamberthrough a'series of openings arranged transversely ofthe' chamber, and means for pro- Viding a lower tem erature and'iinore rapid owof air through t e intermediate openings of saidfseries than through those nearer the outer side walls o f said chamber.

' v 15. In an annealing leer, the'coinbiiiation of an annealing chamber'extending lengthwise of the leer, a series' of tubes through.l which heated air is conveyed to said chainber,`

said tubes communicating with said cha-'nibe'r through a`ser1es of openings arranged transversely of the chamber, and adjusting means p for controlling and adjusting the relative temperature of the annealing air at different points transversely of the leer by adjust-ably controllingr the relative temperature of the air passing through the different openings of` said series.

`16. A leer comprising an annealing ch'amber, a unit including a i-cciiperator and a heater arranged below the forward end ot' the chamber. means supplying air through` the recupei'ator tothe chamber; and means for varying the effective heating capacityof',

the recuperatmg.,

17. A leer comprising an annealing chamheater arranged below the forward 'end of the chamber, means supplying air through the recuperator to the chamber, and manual- 1y controlled valves operable to vary theefi'ective heating capacity of the recuperator. r

18. A' leer comprising an annealing tunnel,V a heat-ing unit below the forward end of the.

tn nnelji vertical tube recuperator associated withsaid unit and opening into .said annealing tunnel through the door of the latter,

bei", a unit including a recuperator and a' means causing continuous recirculationof atmospheric airv throng the recuperator and predeterminedportions of the tunnel, 'and means including slide valve-s for.eliminating vcertain of the recuperator tubes from the path of circulation of air.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State ofOhio, this 24th day of J anuary,

PERCY Q.WIL LIAMS.'

eoy 

